Sun-dial



(No-Model.)

H. A. BEEN, Jr. 'l SUN DIAL. No. 252,418.

Patented Jan. 1,'7, 188 2.

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HENRY A. BEEN, JE., or WEEHAWKEN, NEW JEEsEY.

SUN-DIAL.l

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 252,418, dated January 17, 1882. Application tiled November 10, 1881. (No model.)

.To all whom tmay concern:

Be it known that I, H. A. BEHN, Jr., of Weehawken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented-certain new and useful Iinprovements'in Sun-Dials;

fand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the inven- Vtion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, ref- 1oe`rence being had 'to the accompanying drawings, which form part ot' this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in sun-dials; and it consists in the combination Y of aweighted rod or upright for casting the shadow, and a slide which can be pushed inwardso as to catch under the weighted end of the rodand hold it in a horizontal position while the dial is being carried around or is closed up, as will be more fully described here-` co inalter.

" The objectof my invention is to weight the lower end ofthe rod or upright-for casting the shadow, so that it can be held in a horizontal *position while the cover of the dial is., closed 2 5 and while the instrument is being transported, and then whenit is desiredto use thedial itis onlyu necessary to draw out the slide and the rod or upright will automatically spring into position.

A 3o Figure lis a plan view of myinvention. Fig.

2 is a vertical section of the same, showing the rod in one position in solid lilies and in -another in dotted lines.

Arepresents a suitable frame, of any desired shape, size, or construction, and which has the dial-plate B marked or formed upon its face in any suitable manner. Through this plate is made a slot, C, which terminates at one end in an enlarged circular opening, while the other 4o end extends through to the edge of the plate itself. In this slot, 'at the center ot the plate,

is pivoted the upright or rod D, which is weighted at its lower end, and which extends upward far enough above its pivot to east its shadow tothe outer edge ot' the dial-plate. The lower end of this dial is weighted, so that whenever it is free to` move the weight will cause the upright to assume a vertical position. In order that this rod may be held in a vertical position, so that the cover of the dial can be closed down to protect the different parts, or while the dial is being transported, the slide E, having its inner end so shaped as to catch under the weight on the lower end of the ro'd, is used. When this slide is drawn outward, so as to no longer catch under the weighted end ofthe rod, the rod instantly assurnes a vertical position.

weighted end rises through the opening that is made at one end of the slot, and the slide is then forced inward, the inner end of the slide Aforms a support for the weight, and the rod is then held firmly in position. Also attached to the dial-face is an ordinary compass, G, which serves to indicate the position in which the dial is to be placed or held so as to'give the correct time.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. Ina sun-dial, the weighted pointer or rod, in combination with a slide which supports the rod, in a horizontal position, substantially as shown.

2. In a sun-dial, the combination` of a pivoted weighted rod or pointer, aslide for supporting the-pointer in a horizontal position, a slotted dial-plate, and the compass, the parts being arranged to operatesubstanti ally as described. 1

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnessesn HENRY AUGUST, BEHN, JR. Witnesses:

WILLIAM MEIXNEE, FREDERICK C. WIENKEN.

When the rod is forced down to a horizontal position', so that its 

